Electrical outlet



Sept. 11, 1928. 1,684,161

s. M. TRAUBITZ ELECTRICAL OUTLET Filed Nov. 16, 1927 E7 E. F191. 15 1i gvwemtoz qi qdne 7;"aa5iZz Patented Sept. 11, 1928.

UNlTED STATES PATENT oF icE.

SYDNEY M. TRAUBITZ, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

ELECTRICAL OUTLET.

Application filed November 16, 1927. Serial No. 233,602.

This invention relates to a device known as an electrical convenience outlet, the same being adapted to be used as an auxiliary device in connection with the regular house wiring, permitting an outlet to be located wherever desired. It is particularly useful for at-.

- ring the base to which it is secured.

A further object of my invention is to pro-' vide an article of this kind which will have several uses, permitting it to be interchangeably used as an electrical outlet and also as a connection plug for the various electrical de vices commonly employed in household use.

Vith these objects and such other objects as may hereinafter appear, in view, I have devised the particular embodiment described below and more particularly pointed out in the claims appended hereto.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawing, forming a part hereof, in which Figure 1 is a plan view of my improved electric outlet;

Figure 2 is a similar view of the base of the outlet showing the contacts thereon and the wire-receiving grooves;

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view'of the parts shown in Figure 2 showing the same secured to a support;

Figure 4 is a side elevation of the complete device with the cover or cap being shown in crosssection and parts of the base being broken away to disclose construction;

Figure 5 is a sectional view on the line 5-5 of Figure 3, looking in the direction of the arrows; and

Figure 6 is a side elevation partly in section of a modified structure showing the manner inwhich the outlet may be secured to a metal strip which may be attached to a support or in an outlet box.

Throughout the various views of the dravw ings, similar reference characters designate similar parts.

In the embodiment of my invention dis closed in the accompanying drawing, 1 indicates the body portion of the device. The same is preferably made of any suitable insulating material, such as hard rubber, mica,

porcelain or the like. Itcomprises a diskshaped base portion Q-having a flat rear surface 3 enabling it to be placed against a base board or other article to which it is to be secured'as shown at 4 in Figure 3. The base portion 2 is preferably made of substantial thickness and its upper surface is provided 4 with a plurality of grooves 5 and 6. The

two groovesli are preferablyoplaced diametricallyopposite one another on the base and are of suiiicient depth to receive the wiring.

7 (Figure 5).. If desired, perforations 8 may be located in said grooves 5 through which screws or other fastening means may be used to secure thebodyportion to a support such as 4. i a

The grooves 6 receive spring contact fingers '9 which extend upwardly on opposite sides of an outstanding projection 10 which forms an integral part of the base 2. This part 10 is provided with an enlarged head 11 which hasa pair of oppositely disposed slots 12 in which upwardly extending parts 13 of the spring contacts QeXtend. Saidspring contacts have their lower ends secured in the grooves 6 by means of tubular rivets 14,

which rivets are internally threaded so that the same may receive screws 15 which act as 7 binding posts for the wiring 7 as is disclosed in F igure 5.

The head 11 is externally threaded as at 16 i and an internally threaded closure cap or cover 17 is received on said head and when threaded down as disclosed in Figures 4and 6, it covers the contacts 14, the spring fingers 9 and the grooves 5. I It will be seen that the head 11 is under-cut as at 18 to provide acircumferential groove or space 19 located between the under-side of the head Y11 and the upper face of the base 2. This groove is completely closed as disclosed in Figure 4 by the cap 17 so that the divided wires are thus held within this closed space and are neither visible nor accessible when the cover 17 is placed in position. It will be seen that the top of said cover is provided with a pair of slots 20 Whichregister with the parts 13 on the spring fingers 9 permitting the prongs on the conventionaltype of connection plug to enter through said slots 20 and establish c0nnection with the fingers 9. p

I have also shown the body portion 1 provided with a continuous central perforation 21 through which asecurlng screw 22 may pass to secure the device to a base or other support. It will be seen that when the deportion having vice is so attached and the cover member or cap 17 is in place, the securing screw 22 is completely covered and rendered invisible. Any other means of securing the device in position supplementary to screws which can pass through the perforations 8 and 21 may be used if desired.

In Figure 6 a modified structure is shown,

wherein I have shown the base portion 2 of the device secured to a metallic strap 22 by means ofa tubular rivet 23 The strap 22 is provided with perforations 24: at its ends so that the same can be secured to any suitable support orin an outletbox or the like. The strap may also be varied inv shape to suit different requirements.

I'haveheretofore described my device as being used for an electrical outlet primarily intended to be secured to a base or other fixed support. It is however, readily useful as a connection plugby merely securing it to the ends of a lead Wire as shown and not securing'it. in any Way to a fixed support, the

usual connection being establishedto a Wire leading from a source of current by means of a tWopronged plug which connects through the slots 20 in the cover member in the conventional Way.

A feature of the invention also resides in the fact that When the device is used as a fixed outlet member, it may be secured to a support and thereafter Wired, enabling the Wire to be doneneatly and more expeditiously than isthe case Where the device must be first Wired and then secured in position.

It will be seen that the base portion 2 of the deviceis provided With two oppositely disposedgrooves, 5.

In cases Where the Wiring is to pass completely through the outlet device, the Wiring first e'nters through one, of the grooves '5 Where it is separated, bared and connected to the contact screws 15 and thereafter continues out through the other groove The device hasmany uses, several of which have been herein set forth.

Having described one embodiment of my inventiom'it is obvious that the same is not to be restricted thereto, but is broadenough to cover all str ictures'coming within the scope of the annexed claims.

'VVhat I claim is:

1. An electric outlet comprising a body an opening extending through it for receiving securing means, a flat base on said body portion having a grooved upper iace, sprin cured in and extending out of several of said grooves, an integrally formed slotted pro- I 52 contact fingers SQ".

ly therefrom, a slotted projection on said base, a threaded-outer terminal on said pro-.

jection and a cap adapted to fit over said projection and be received on the threaded part thereon, and cover the contacts and grooves in the base.

3. An electric'outlet having a flat base, an;

oil-standing projection thereon, an enlarged head on the outer end of said projection form: ing a groove between its inner end and the outer face of the base, contact screws on said base, spring contact fingers connected there to, parts on said fingers extendingfrom'the base, slots in the enlarged head into Which said extended parts-on the fingers project, a closure can adapted to be received over and held on the enlarged head, said cap extending over and covering the contacts and spring fingers, and openings in said cap per-- mitting access to the spring fingers.

An electric outlet comprising a body portion having a base, contacts on said base, spring fingers connected thereto, a slotted.

outstanding projection on the base disposed betwen the spring fingers, said fingers lo-- eaten in the slots in the pro ection, a cover member adapted to fit over the pro ect1on and enclose the contacts and the spring fingcrs, and openings in the cover in registration with the spring fingers to permit COHliZLQt'Wltli said fingers to bemade by prongs insertedthrough said openings.

An electric outlet hav ng a fiat, base, means for securing the same to a support, a

threaded plug-like extensionprojccting from the face of said base, slots therein, contacts on the base on opposite sides ofthe plug-like extension located in the slots in said'extension, an apertured'cover member received on and held bytheplug-like extension, the apertures igned at the city,'county and State of 

